Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Steven Trulaske — CEO of True Manufacturing. If you’ve ever ordered food at a stadium, picked up a drink at a gas station, or been in a commercial kitchen, you’ve probably interacted with True Manufacturing without even realizing it.
Over the last 80 years, they’ve quietly become one of the largest refrigeration companies in the world. True is a third-generation, family-owned business that has grown from bending metal in a garage to becoming a global brand—serving customers in over 100 countries while keeping their roots in American manufacturing.
In this conversation, Steve shares the story of how True got started, how they’ve expanded globally without losing their culture, and what it takes to build a company that lasts for generations.
Timestamps:
00:00 Steven Trulaske's Intro
00:52 Welcome Steven Trulaske
00:58 True Manufacturing's Products
02:58 True Manufacturing's Background
04:40 Keeping True Manufacturing As A Family Business
06:00 Steven's Career Background
06:50 Keeping The Family Involved In The Business
07:38 True Manufacturing's Future
09:00 Moving Into New Markets
10:22 Dealing With Products That Are Not Successful
11:36 The Long-Term Mindset
13:20 Encouraging Business Owners To Stay Engaged
14:47 Steven's Perspective On Servant Leadership
15:50 Bringing On New Team Members
16:53 Thinking About Future Generations
18:26 Advisors - What Should You Look For?
19:50 Finding Great Mentors And Advisors
20:56 Peer Group Opportunities
21:31 Personal Life Outside The Business
22:54 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions
24:43 True Manufacturing's International Growth
25:34 ClosingTrue Manufacturing:https://www.truemfg.com/Servant Leadership:
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